In this week's skills article—"Preaching with Precision, Imagination, and Power"—we offer a fascinating interview with the best-selling fiction writer, Bret Lott. As a Christian and a novelist, Bret knows that words matter. He also argues that your words matter, preacher. Lott calls it the "bedrock foundation of making a sermon alive"—namely, that "your own life must be at stake in what you say, and your search for the exact words for that matter of life and death must be the engine for getting [the text] across."

Lott also encourages every preacher to love the Bible. He says, "You can learn about preaching by loving to read the Bible, and reading it all the time. Read it like the book it is, and not a reference manual or a guidebook or a theological text or a pedantic tome. This is a book of stories, and a book of The Story." The article is packed with profound and inspiring thoughts about preaching with precision and power.

This week to encourage and equip you in your ministry of preaching we offer:

• Featured Sermon: Preaching God's Unchained Word by Dr. Robert Smith Jr.
• Featured Illustration: Prayers Bring Fruit at International Justice Mission
• Video: Cooking Kids

In Christ,

Matt Woodley
Managing Editor, PreachingToday.com
mwoodley@christianitytoday.com

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Matt Woodley is the pastor of compassion ministries at Church of the Resurrection in Wheaton, Illinois.